Game apparatus



Oct. 10, 1933. w HASSEMQLUG 1,929,922

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS: INVENTORWflhamL-Ha55E1 1 1uq Q BY H15 ATT'ORN'EY Oct. 10, 1933. w. 1..HASSENPLUG GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet ;2

I N VEN TOR r x Q WITNESS.-

H13 ATORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thisinvention relates to a game apparatus, and has for an object to providean equipment for the playing of a game ordinarily referred to as quoits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit adapted for theplaying of the game of quoits which may be installed either out-ofdoorsor in doors with equal facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unit having aresilient composition forming the surface thereof, with the pinextending above the resilient surface, said unit being adapted for beingpartially buried in the ground g for an out-door installation, orcombined with platform members surrounding said unit for indoorinstallation. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a container havingupwardly convergingly sloping sides, said container beingfilled with aresilient semiplastic composition, with a pin extending upwardly fromthe surface of said composition, the inclined sides being employed forproperly anchoring the unit buried in the ground for an outdoorinstallation, and for combination with platform sections to surround theunit when employed as an indoor installation.

The invention therefore comprises in its rudimentary form, a containerwhich comprises a circumferential band inclined convergingly upward sothat the bottom of the band is of greater diameter than the top, saidband being filled with a semi-plastic material, with a pin extendingupwardly from the surface of the plastic material, with the furtheraddition of sections of approximately the height of the band andsurrounding the container forming a platform, the depth of which isapproximately on a level with the plastic composition of the container,said platform being adapted to be covered by any type of coveringmaterial, such as grass matting, or the like. The invention essentiallycomprises two of the organizations, whether of the single containerunit, or the container unit with the platform sections, saidorganizations being spaced apart at an arbitrary distance for thepurpose of providing range for pitching the quoits.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and the viewstherein are as follows:

Figure l is a top plan view of the complete organization, including theunit filled with the composition and the surrounding platform sections,

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the container unit,taken on the same sectional line as Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the platform unit,taken on the same line as of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the installation comprising two ofthe organizations spaced apart at pitching distance, and as employed forindoor use, and

c Figure 6 is a view in section-showing two of the container unitsspaced apart and. partially buried in the ground as employed forout-ofdoor installation.

.Like characters of reference indicate correspending parts throughoutthe several views.-

The present invention comprises essentially a container as shown inenlarged detail at Figure 3, said container being made up of a bottomsection 10, and a band ll. This band 11, as will be noted moreparticularly from Figure 3, is permanently secured to the bottom 10about the perimeter of the bottom and band at the junction 12. This maybe in any approved manner as by arc welding or as circumstances may makedesirable. The inclined sides of the band 11 are provided adjacent thetop with a shoulder 13, and with a rim 14 upstanding thereabout.Preferably, though not necessarily, this rim 14 will be of some pleasingornamental shape as the curvature suggested at Figure 3. The shoulder 13is provided with a perforation 15, the utility of which will behereinafter more full described.

Preferably, though not necessarily, a reinforcing plate 16 will besecured to the bottom 10, the use of the plate 16 depending upon therigidity of the bottom 10. If so employed, a pin 17 is employed whichwill be secured to the plate 16 at 18, such securing being by anyapproved method as spot welding. A forked brace member 19 will engagethe pin 1'7 and maintain it rigidly at its required inclination. Thecontainer thus constructed, is filled with a plastic material 20.Preferably, this plastic material will be compounded of clay, siliconand linseed oil. By reason of the differences in the consistency ofclay, proportions cannot be given, but the ingredients are mixed untilthey form a compound which, when packed into the container, will easilysupport the weight of the players stepping thereon without showingdepressions, but at the same time will offer a certain degree ofyielding and resiliency to the quoits which are a more acute taper 31.

pitched by the players to impact thereon, it being, of course, thedesideratum to throw the quoit over the pin 17 in the usual well knownmanner of playing this game. Quoits which descend upon the surface ofthis composition 20 should remain substantially stationary withoutrebounding as would be the case with harder surfaces, the surface ofthis composition yielding just sufficiently to absorb the impact andprevent the rebounding.

When used for an out-of-door installation, the unit as just abovedescribed is complete and is buried in the ground, indicated at 21 inFigure 6 so that the ground line shall be substantially at the bottom ofthe rim 14. The extension of the rim 14 above the ground level isdesirable as preventing surface water from finding its way into thecontainer and detracting from the consistency of the fillingcomposition. It is, of course, within the intent of the invention thatthe unit itself shall be covered to be protected from the elements, andthe upstanding rim will prevent the inflow of surface water so that bythis means, the composition will be maintained in dry state.

The unit as just described, however, is also intended for installationfor indoor use in such positions that it cannot be buried as indicatedat-Figure 6. To provide for such indoor use, a platform is combined withthe unit. The platform is constructed in two halves A and B as shown inplan at Figure 1. These platform sections may be made of any materialfound desirable, In the drawings, a construction of sheet material isindicated, but the invention is in no way limited to the material ofwhich they are constructed. The platforms are constructed with recesseswhich, when combined, will fit about the unit shown at Figure 3, and tothis end are provided with conically tapered walls 22, and with flanges23 which extend over and bear upon the shoulders 13. Preferably, theseflanges will be provided with registering openings 24 and 25 throughwhich bolts 26 may be inserted, passing through the openings 15 of theshoulders 13 and secured by nut 27 which maybe embedded in thecomposition 20.

When constructed of sheet material, these platform sections will becomposed of bottom sheets 28 which will extend entirely about thecontainer unit, and to such extent as may be found desirable. The topwill preferably incline slightly downwardly as indicated at 29 and 30,and one of the sides will be provided with It is the intent that theseinclinations 30 and 31 shall be arranged upon the proximate sides of theorganizations as indicated at Figure 5 so that the players standing ateither organization shall not see an abrupt shoulder facing them at theopposingunit, Of course, side walls 32 will be provided when and asnecessary, and an upstanding flange 33 at the remote sides of theorganizations will prevent the quoits from sliding off when inexpertlypitched. While the drawings indicate these platform sections as beingcomposed of sheet material, it is obvious that they may be composed ofany material found desirable, and that the only requisite is theposition of the top deck or surface, and their coaction with thecontainer unit so that they shall meet at the center line 34, as shownat Figure 1, to form a platform completely about the container unit. Asexplained in the statement of invention, it is the purpose that thisplatform shall be covered with some yielding material forming adesirable foot-hold for the players, and as a surface for the receipt ofinexpertly pitched quoits which do not properly impact upon the surfaceof the composition 20.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the operation of the device willbe fully understood, and that further explanation would be surplusage.

Of course, the game apparatus, herein illustrated may be modified andchanged in various ways without departing from the invention herein setforth and hereinafter claimed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A game apparatus comprising a container having sloping sides, and aplatform constructed in sections having parts complementary to thesloping sidesof and surrounding and embracing the same and with the topsof the sections coinciding approximately with the top of said container-2. A game apparatus comprising a container having upwardly convergingsides, a platform constructed in sections together embracing the slopingsides of the container with the top of the platform adjacent the topplane of the sides of the containerand an upstanding flange along oneside of the platform.

3. A game apparatus comprising a container unit, a platform constructedin sections and embracing the container unit, said platform having oneside of the top approximately horizontal and the other side tapered toan edge coinciding substantially with the bottom.

4. A game apparatus comprising a container unit having upwardlyconverging sides, a pin set at an inclination within the container andextending above the plane of the sides, a resilient oleaginouscomposition filling the container and embedding the pin, a platformconstructed in sections embracing and surrounding the container with thetop of the platform approximately horizontal and coincidingapproximately with the top plane of the edges of the container, saidplatform top being at one side tapered downwardly into substantialcoincidence with the bottom of said platform.

WILLIAM L. HASSENPLUG.

